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Treaties and conventions

Canada-United States treaties and agreements

Canada and the U.S. have put in place two key mechanisms to facilitate cooperation. In 1990, Canada and the U.S. signed a mutual legal assistance treaty, which provides for the international exchange of evidence to be used in criminal proceedings.

An asset-sharing agreement was signed in 1994. That agreement promotes joint enforcement and cooperation and provides for the sharing of forfeited criminal assets arising from joint investigations conducted by agencies on both sides of the border.

International conventions

Broader international cooperation is essential as transnational crime cannot be successfully dealt with solely on a bilateral Canada-U.S. basis. Canada works with other governments in the G-8, the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States to develop and promote international standards to combat transnational crime, and organized crime in particular.

The UN convention on transnational organized crime was created in 2000. Agreements to address people smuggling and trafficking in women and children were also developed as complements to the main convention. These new international instruments provide all signatory countries with a shared framework and legal tools to enhance international cooperation.